Antiflapping device for porch curtains



'A ril 16, 1935. e. A. PHINN 1,997,912

ANTIFLAPPING DEVICE FOR PORCH CURTAINS Filed May '7, 1954 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 V UNITED STATES AN'I IFLAPPING DEVICE FOR PORCH CURTAINS George A. Phinn, Pasadena, Calif.

Application May '7, 1934, Serial No. 724,287

Claims.

This invention relates to means for securing curtains against flapping and damaging vibration usually set up by the action of wind and the objects of the invention being to provide a 5 simple and inexpensive device which is economical to make, may be readily installed or applied to a window or door frame, and will effectively engage and press the curtain material against the frame with relation to which it operates. The

invention is designed'chiefiy for that type of ourtain known as drop roll curtains in which the roll of curtain material itself is lowered and elevated to cover or uncover the space'behind it, as distinguished from the spring roller curtain. In the drop roll type obviously the curtain or curtain material may be and usually is of considerable area and is applicable to porches, verandas and other places of extent'greater than that which could be protected or covered by a spring roller curtain. 7

Other objects will appear from the specification following in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the invention as applied to a frame, dotted lines indicating elevated position of the curtain and the inoperative position of the fixture.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a window and its frame and of the devices as attached thereto, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the elements oscillatably mounted on each end of the curtain pole to act as a guide for the flexible wire or rope that holds the roll of curtain material firmly against the frame.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I designates a bracket, in the nature of a post that is provided with a base plate 2, arranged to be secured to a suitable frame 3. The post or bracket I extends outwardly from the frame 3 and, as shown in Fig. 1 the end t of same is bent at right angles upon itself and forms a mount for a bar 5 that is rigidly secured in vertical position to the horizontal or bent portions i of the bracket I. The bar 5 is provided with trunnions t for pivoting a frame i, which as shown in Fig. l is composed of two plates. These plates, which are in substantially the shape of a bel1crank, except that the upper leg I is considerably longer than the lower leg 1", are held spaced by said bar 5 and four rods 8, 9, l9 and II, the rod II, journaling a roller II in the end of the lower leg I of the frame I and the rods 8' and 9' respectively journaling rollers 8 and 9 in the longer upper leg of the frame I. To the rod It is anchored one end of a helical spring I2; the other end of said spring is fastened to said bar 5, which is slotted as at I3 to permit passage therethrough as the frame I is oscillated as hereinafter described and the spring is thereby caused to exert its tension on one side or the other of its neutral center which is the bar The-upward movement of the frame 1 to the position indicated in dotted lines Fig. 2 is, automatically completed by said spring I2 and such movement of the frame is limited by stop members It formed or provided on the frame plates, these. stop members beingarranged to strike against the upstanding bar 5. The downward movement of said frame '5 to the'position' shown in Fig. 2 is completed by said spring I2, and this downward movement is limited by the impingement of the roller 8 in and projecting beyond the end of the frame 1 against the curtain material I5 in which position the roller 8 is held in yielding contact with the curtain I5 by the spring I2 and presses it with yielding pressure against the frame or casing 3. The upper leg I of the bell-crank frame 1 is, for this reason, made longer than the bracket I to which it is operatively connected. When the end roller 8 is not in contact with any restraining object, as pointed out, the movement downwardly is limited by the lower leg "I" of the frame which strikes against the portion 4 of the bracket; but in actual practice the engagement of the roller 8 with the curtain holds the lower leg 'I" away from contact with the portion 4 of the bracket and being under the tension of said spring I2, such engagement is a yielding one. The curtain, i5 is wound upon a pole I6 and is in the normally inoperative posi-' tion, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, having been elevated from the position shown in full lines Fig. 2, by ropes or cables I'I, that are fastened at one end to the top of the casing or frame 3 and after passing under the rolled curtain, are run over pulleys I8. During the elevation of the roll of curtain I5, the roller 9 of the longer leg 5' of the bell-crank or frame I has been engaged by the diametrically increasing roll I5 and thrust it upward to the position where the spring I2 tends to complete the movement as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2. At the same time, the shorter leg 7" is thrown inwardly toward the frame or casing 3, and in the direct path of movement downwardly of the roll, which, engaging it, causes the frame I to oscillate and the spring I2 to force the roller 8 in the longer leg I of the frame to contact the unwound portion of the curtain, which is thereby held against vibration and other annoyances due to winds. The curtain pole I6 is provided with sheaves I9 and with guides 29 fitting over said sheaves IQ, for tensioned cables or ropes 2| that are arranged to press against said sheaves l9 and hold the curtain securely against the casing or frame.

What I claim, is:

l. A device for holding a curtain against its frame to prevent flapping thereof, comprising in association with such frame and such curtain a bracket attachable to said frame and having a bent portion extending over the edge of and outwardly from the face of the curtain, a bar rigidlysecured toand upstanding from, said; bent portion, a frame trunnioned on said bar and having;

a long leg and a short leg at substantially right angles to each other, a roller journaled in the end of each of said respective legs, aspringlconnecting said frame with said upstanding bar andactuable on either side of said bar to maintain the roller in the end of said longer leg inyielding engagementwiththe curtain at one timeand out of engagement at another time, said frame being tiltable to engaging position with the curtain by the movement of the curtain roll in one direction andout of engaging position by the movement of said curtain roll in another direction.

2, Adevice for holding a porch curtain against a frame to prevent flapping thereof comprising, in association with such frame and curtain, a bracket attachable to suchframe and extending outwardly therefrom, said bracket having a bent portion, a, bar secured to said bent portion, a frametrunnioned on said bar and tiltable with respect thereto, said frame-provided with at ourtain engagingroller, a-springlto hold said frame Oneither side of the center of said bar, said frame operable by the movement of the curtain roll to engaging or disengaging, position, and means to limitthe tiltingmovement. of said frame relatively to said bar.

3. A device for holding a, movable roll porch curtain against casing to prevent flapping thereof, comprising, in association with said casing and the curtain, a frame composed of an upper curved leg and a shorter lower leg at substantially right angles to each other, a curtain engaging roller journaled in the respective end of said frame, a roller journaled intermediate said upper leg, a bracket secured to the casing, said frame beingtrunnioned on said bracket and a spring to move and hold saidframe on either. side of its pivotal center, said intermediate roller being engfigeable by the curtain roll to move said upper leg out of its path and said lower leg being ena eable, by saidroll to move the upper leg into its path.

4. A device for holding a porch curtain against a casing to prevent flapping thereof comprising in association with such casing and the curtain, a bracket securable to and extending outwardly bemud and over the edge of the curtain, a frame trunnioned on said bracket, said frame having a curving upperbranch carrying in the end thereof a roller and a lower branch carrying in the end thereof a rolier, stop means on the curving branch to limit the arcuate movement upwardly thereof, said bracket serving to limit the arcuate movement downwardly of said branch, and a spring tending to hold said frame tilted in either pcsi-' tion.

5. A device forholding a movable roller curtain against vibration comprising a bracket, a frame trunnioned on said bracket, and having two branches at substantially right angles to each other, one of said branches being longer than the otherand journalinga curtain engaging roller, stop, nieansfor limiting the movement of said frame, and a spring to hold said frame against either of said stop means, said frame being operableby the curtain roll to move the longer branch thereof to engaging or disengaging position.

GEORGE A, PHINN; 

